Good news: McKinney adopts smoking ordinance (Dallas, Richmond: homes, living in, restaurants)

[socketz]

McKinney adopts smoking ordinance - Dallas Business Journal:

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by socketz

McKinney adopts smoking ordinance - Dallas Business Journal:

I'm a non-smoker and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. While in California I did enjoy restaurants and pubs being smoke free. With that said, I'm not all that thrilled with the idea of a city government telling a private business if they can or can;t have smoking inside. It should be up to the individual restaurant, etc. Nobody is forced to dine there and nobody is forced to work there...just my two cents worth!

[KantLockeMeIn]

I second that. I'm a non-smoker and I'm strongly opposed to the government telling a private business where people can and can't smoke. A free market will prevail.

I used to live in Richmond where Phillip Morris was a major employer. They let you smoke in the office. I wouldn't take a job there no matter what the pay. But anyone working there can walk out the door if they don't like it.

[MaryS80]

You can add another one to the list of those who think it's not the governments business.

[socketz]

I'm not an anti-smoker by any stretch, but smoke is a carcinogen. Second hand smoke (unfiltered) is pretty evil. These are just facts.

I tend to believe that if what you do affects others around you in a physically negative manner just because they are in the same proximity, then that activity should be controlled to some degree. Smoking in public facilities is one of those (but you should be able to smoke in your car, that new legislation is silly). However, if you decide you don't want to wear a helment when you ride a bike on the highway, then that's your choice.

I've heard all the stories about regulations such as this causing grave damage to small business, but in reality, there is no data to support that opinion.

In CA, as others mentioned, the entire dining experience is so much better because the environment feels alot cleaner and personally, I think it has helped the industry in that state.

[stargazer]

My mother never smoked a day in her life and has copd. She got it because of second hand smoke. Copd is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States and more people are getting diagnosed these days that never smoked a day in their life. I saw my mom not too long ago and I heard her breath in, it is terrible and I know too that her life is shortened because of living in a culture that allowed smoking to be acceptable in work spaces and restaurants. People do have a right to smoke but people who don't, shouldn't have to be subjected to it. jmo

[Roma]

Good news indeed.

[CallMeLaura]

I'm normally not a fan of more government control, but I'm allergic to smoke, so I'm in favor of this legislation.

To those who say 'just leave', where do you go when your neighbors smoke? Where do you eat if all the restaurants are full of smoke? Where do you work when smoking is allowed in all buildings? How do you not show up for court because there are smokers?

It's not like I can take one step back from a smoker and be fine. I have to avoid the entire area they're contaminating or I risk an asthma attack that could end my life. Sound dramatic? Well, not being able to breathe is pretty dramatic.

So, it comes down to whose 'rights' are more important, I guess. Yours to smoke or mine to breathe?

[texasorbust]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

I'm a non-smoker and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. While in California I did enjoy restaurants and pubs being smoke free. With that said, I'm not all that thrilled with the idea of a city government telling a private business if they can or can;t have smoking inside. It should be up to the individual restaurant, etc. Nobody is forced to dine there and nobody is forced to work there...just my two cents worth!

I would have to agree with you. I'm also not a smoker. I can't stand the smell especially when it gets in my hair. I'm from CA and the goverment seems to be able to tell you when,where and how you can sneeze. I'm looking forward to moving to Texas to get away from the crazyness of CA. Let the private business choose if they should have smoking at the risk of loosing customers, but that would be the restaurants choice not the goverment.

I not against goverment buildings being smoke free but priviate business's should not be force to become smoke free.

[KantLockeMeIn]

A court building is not a private entity, and should be regulated by the government. But if you are allergic to smoke, then patronize restaurants that prohibit smoking. If your favorite restaurant is a smoking establishment, write their management and let them know why they lost a customer. If enough people feel the same way, they'll change their business practices.

You don't have a right to go to a restaurant or a right to work. Let's keep the government out of homes and private businesses and let a free market prevail.